a Visual Communications production
LOS ANGELES ASIAN PACIFIC FILM FESTIVAL No. 34 | May 3 - May 12, 2018 festival.vconline.org
PROGRAM SCHEDULE THU MAY 3
MON MAY 7
DGA
REGAL
6:30 PM | 117 MINS MY SO-CALLED ADOLESCENCE
REGAL
6:30 PM | 88 MINS THE CLEANERS
REGAL
7:30 PM | 84 MINS
FOR IZZY
REGAL
9:15 PM | 85 MINS
WHITE RABBIT
REGAL
9:30 PM | 99 MINS FEMINIST AF TOO
REGAL
9:45 PM | 85 MINS
7:00 PM | 101 MINS OPENING: SEARCHING
FRI MAY 4 AMC
7:00 PM | 95 MINS
CALL HER GANDA
DGA
7:00 PM | 37 MINS
HBO APA VISIONARIES 2018
AMC
9:30 PM | 96 MINS SNEAK PEEK: A NEW DARK COMEDY BY H.P. MENDOZA
SAT MAY 5
STAND UP MAN
TUE MAY 8
VENUE LEGEND 341 FSN 341 FSN (Formerly Matsumura Gift Shop) AMC AMC Dine-in Sunset 5
TAT
10:00 AM | 28 MINS ITSY BITSY SHORTS
TAT
11:00 AM | 73 MINS FROM VISION TO REEL: GENERASIANS
DTIND
11:00 AM | 55 MINS PROOF OF LOYALTY
JANM
12:00 PM | 75 MINS C3: CRAZY | RICH | ASIANS
EWP
12:30 PM | 98 MINS CORRIDOR FOUR
DTIND
1:15 PM | 100 MINS DISLOCATED SELF AND BEYOND
TAT
1:15 PM | 104 MINS OUT OF STATE
JANM
1:30 PM | 60 MINS
C3: BUILDING US UP
JANM
2:45 PM | 60 MINS
C3: WHERE ARE OUR APA FILM CRITICS & JOURNALISTS?
WED MAY 9
EWP
3:00 PM | 78 MINS
ANGKAR
REGAL
TAT
4:00 PM | 84 MINS PASIFIKAS
WANG STORY
DTIND
DTIND
4:00 PM | 93 MINS MINDING THE GAP
REGAL
6:30 PM | 121 MINS JIMAMI TOFU
Downtown Independent
JANM
4:00 PM | 60 MINS C3: DON’T CALL IT A COMEBACK
REGAL
7:00 PM | 92 MINS
ARATANI 5:00 PM | 92 MINS CENTERPIECE: IN THE LIFE OF MUSIC
REGAL
8:00 PM | 34 MINS ARMED WITH A CAMERA VOL. 2018
EWP
JANM
5:15 PM | 60 MINS
C3: THE STORIES WE TELL
REGAL
9:15 PM | 101 MINS NEOMANILA
David Henry Hwang
EWP
5:30 PM | 99 MINS
BECOMING WHO I WAS
REGAL
9:30 PM | 98 MINS IT’S A PARTY
Theater @ East West
TAT
6:30 PM | 85 MINS
ISLAND SOLDIER
DTIND
6:30 PM | 95 MINS
PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF DESIRE
REGAL
6:30 PM | 88 MINS WARU
REGAL
6:45 PM | 82 MINS
FISH BONES
ARATANI
REGAL
6:45 PM | 96 MINS
OMOTENASHI
Aratani Theatre @ JACCC
REGAL
7:00 PM | 90 MINS SCIENCE FAIR
REGAL
9:00 PM | 95 MINS SECOND GENERATION QUEER
CGV
REGAL
9:15 PM | 99 MINS
CGV Cinemas Koreatown
REGAL
9:30 PM | 96 MINS FIND YOUR VOICE
HANH, SOLO
DGA Directors Guild of America
6:30 PM | 99 MINS LATE LIFE: THE CHIEN-MING
THE FEVER AND THE FRET
Players
THU MAY 10 CGV
10:00 AM | 88 MINS SINGING WITH ANGRY BIRD
CGV
12:00 PM | 90 MINS SCIENCE FAIR
CGV
2:00 PM | 75 MINS
CGV
3:45 PM | 102 MINS BEYOND OUR MEMORIES
SUN MAY 6
CGV
6:30 PM | 113 MINS KISS AND SPELL
EWP
ARATANI 7:00 PM | 94 MINS CLOSING: MATANGI / MAYA / M.I.A.
ARATANI 8:00 PM | 85 MINS CENTERPIECE: FICTION & OTHER REALITIES TAT
9:00 PM | 95 MINS KULEANA
DTIND
9:00 PM | 96 MINS THE NO SPIN ZONE
12:00 PM | 75 MINS #ASAMCREATORROLLCALL - THE EPISODICS
ARATANI 1:00 PM | 107 MINS DIGITAL HISTORIES: OUR STORIES, NOW TOLD EWP
2:00 PM | 44 MINS PRISON FOOD 4:30 PM | 94 MINS FOREVER ALONE (OR NOT)
DTIND
5:00 PM | 77 MINS
TAT DTIND DTIND
9:00 PM | 124 MINS THE THIRD MURDER
Park Center @ Griffith Park JANM Japanese American National Museum
FRI MAY 11
ARATANI 4:00 PM | 80 MINS ULAM: MAIN DISH EWP
CGV
CHINA’S FORGOTTEN DAUGHTERS
GRIFF
GRIFF
6:00 PM | 88 MINS MULAN: A SING-ALONG
REGAL
(20TH ANNIVERSARY SCREENING)
Regal L.A. LIVE
6:30 PM | 160 MINS THE CHINESE EXCLUSION ACT
SAT MAY 12
7:15 PM | 88 MINS
AUGUST AT AKIKO’S
TAT
9:30 PM | 95 MINS
NIGHTCAP
USC 6:00 pm
ANOTE’S ARK
Film Legend C3 CONFERENCE DOCUMENTARY FEATURE COMPETITION
INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FEATURE COMPETITION
1 • #L A APFF2 0 18
INTERNATIONAL NARRATIVE FEATURE COMPETITION
NARRATIVE FEATURE
SHORTS PROGRAMS SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
PAST//FORWARD GALA: COMING HOME
Tateuchi Democracy Forum @ JANM USC USC Town & Gown Ballroom
COMPETITION
SPECIAL FEATURES PROGRAM SCHE DULE • 2
TICKETING INFORMATION
VENUES
Tickets for all shows are available at festival.vconline.org. Day-of tickets for shows can be purchased at that venue’s box office one (1) hour prior to the first show of the day. All programs are subject to change and/or cancellation without prior notice. AMC DINE-IN SUNSET 5
ALL WORKS PRESENTED IN THE FESTIVAL ARE UNRATED. PARENTAL GUIDANCE IS SUGGESTED. Please arrive 30 minutes before the scheduled program. Seating cannot be guaranteed for ticket holders who arrive after the program begins. Empty seats may be resold; no refunds will be issued.
(21+ ONLY VENUE)
8000 Sunset Blvd West Hollywood, CA 90046 Parking: 4 hours validated free parking
CGV CINEMAS 621 S Western Ave Los Angeles, CA 90005 Parking: 3 hours validated free parking
DIRECTORS GUILD OF AMERICA 7920 Sunset Blvd West Hollywood, CA 90046 Parking: Underground parking structure, entrance on Hayworth Ave
All Sales Are Final. NO REFUNDS. Exchanges given only for program cancellations. Questions? Contact us at tickets@vconline.org or call (213) 680-4462 x59.
ADMISSION $14 – General $13 – Students & Seniors $12 – VC Members
SPECIAL PROGRAMS OPENING NIGHT | CLOSING NIGHT $60 – General $55 – Students, Seniors, & VC Members
TICKET PACKAGES FESTIVAL 10-PACK $135 – General $120 – VC Members Redeemable for all ticketed programs except Opening, Closing, Centerpiece, and C3 Conference. No limit per program.
FESTIVAL CENTERPIECES $20 – General $18 – Students, Seniors, & VC Members
FESTIVAL PASS $330 – General $300 – VC Members Get priority seating and entry to the majority of Festival events!
C3: THE CONFERENCE FOR CREATIVE CONTENT (All-Day Conference Pass) $25 – General $20 – Students, Seniors, & VC Members FREE for Festival Badge Holders DIGITAL HISTORIES: OUR STORIES, NOW TOLD $10 – Suggested Donation
DOWNTOWN INDEPENDENT 251 S Main St Los Angeles, CA 90012 Parking: Several pay lots available in Downtown
PARK CENTER @ GRIFFITH PARK 4670 Crystal Springs Dr Los Angeles, CA 90027 Parking: Upon arrival, follow signage for parking
REGAL L.A. LIVE: A BARCO INNOVATION CENTER 1000 W Olympic Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90015 Parking: Lot 4 or Lot W, 4 hours validated parking for $8
LITTLE TOKYO Parking: Several pay lots and metered street parking are available.
341 FSN 341 E 1st St Los Angeles, CA 90012
JAPANESE AMERICAN NATIONAL MUSEUM 100 N Central Ave Los Angeles, CA 90012
ARATANI THEATRE @ JACCC 244 S San Pedro St Los Angeles, CA 90012
DAVID HENRY HWANG THEATER @ EAST WEST PLAYERS 120 Judge John Aiso S Los Angeles, CA 90012
FESTIVAL HQ @ FAR EAST LOUNGE 353 E 1st St Los Angeles, CA 90012
TATEUCHI DEMOCRACY FORUM @ JANM 100 N Central Ave Los Angeles, CA 90012
FREE SCREENINGS Free to the Public. Tickets are required for admission into the theatre and will be distributed online and at the Box Office. First come, first served. May 5: ITSY BITSY SHORTS, FROM VISION TO REEL: GENERASIANS May 6: THE CHINESE EXCLUSION ACT May 10: SINGING WITH ANGRY BIRD, SCIENCE FAIR, CHINA’S FORGOTTEN DAUGHTERS, BEYOND OUR MEMORIES May 11: MULAN: A SING-ALONG
VE NUE S • 4 3 • TIC KE TI N G I N FO RM AT I O N
CONTENTS 1
Program Schedule
3
Ticketing Information
4 Venues 6 Welcome 7
About Our Art
8
Parties & Afterhours
9
Festival Sponsors
13
Opening Night
14
Closing Night
15 Centerpieces 17
Narrative Feature Competition
19
Documentary Feature Competition
21
International Narrative Feature Competition
23
International Documentary Feature Competition
25
Special Presentations
27
Mulan: A Sing Along (20th Anniversary Screening)
28
Shorts Programs
34
HBO APA Visionaries 2018
35
Armed With a Camera Vol. 2018
37
Digital Histories: Our Stories, Now Told
41
Spotlight on Taiwan
42
Seikatsu Room
43
#AsAmCreatorRollCall: The Episodics
44 Interactive 47
C3: The Conference for Creative Content
53
Past//Forward: Coming Home
55
Staff List
57
Special Thanks
59
VC Members and Donors
61
Become a VC Member
62
About VC
5 • #L AA P FF2 0 18
WELCOME WELCOME TO THE 34TH EDITION OF THE LOS ANGELES ASIAN PACIFIC FILM FESTIVAL, running May 3rd – 12th, 2018. We at Visual Communications proudly present a slate of artists and creators who continue to shift narratives and challenge perspectives. Opening Night kicks off LAAPFF with Aneesh Chaganty’s SEARCHING, featuring leading man John Cho. Yes, #StarringJohnCho is still going strong! Our Centerpiece films showcase the world premieres of Caylee So & Visal Sok’s IN THE LIFE OF MUSIC and Bobby Choy’s (aka Big Phony) FICTION & OTHER REALITIES. For our Closing Night feature, we highlight the story of artist/activist M.I.A. in MATANGI / MAYA / M.I.A. Number 34 maintains our spirit of producing this Festival through the process of creating our ideal communities. Our programmers and staff imagine our ideal communities to be inclusive while struggling towards equity and change. And with regards to the ongoing discourse about diversity, we aim to have a space that engages intra-diversity amongst AAPIs and inter-diversity with other communities. This Festival also launches our countdown to 50 years of Visual Communications. At the end of the Festival, our PAST//FORWARD Gala will honor our builders and storytellers as we toast to our 48th year. We look forward to celebrating with you for the next few years until our 50th in 2020. THANK YOU to our VC supporters, artists, partners, sponsors, friends, and families for continuing to believe in what we do and what we make happen. In our pursuit to create space for cultural connections, we hope that each one of you find a home with us at the Festival.
Francis Cullado, Executive Director
WE LCOME • 6
ABOUT OUR ART
PARTIES & AFTERHOURS OPENING NIGHT PARTY presented by Tiger Beer ($35; FREE for badge holders and Opening Night film ticket holders)
Thursday, May 3 9:30 pm - 11:30 pm Directors Guild of America 7920 Sunset Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90046 FESTIVAL PUB HUB @ FAR BAR (food & drink specials for badge & day-of ticket holders)
VIVIAN SHIH (b. 1992) is the artist behind the 34th Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival's key art. Her playful use of bold and colorful pastel sketches depicts a montage of LA’s disparate landscapes centered within a silhouette, an open-natured way to represent the diverse group of people in Los Angeles. The final sketch was painted with acrylic ink on a large sheet of printmaking paper that was later scanned digitally. “My design represents the people of LA and the love we have for our city. Our landscapes change drastically so quickly: one block is completely different from another, and Santa Monica feels like a different city than Echo Park. Nevertheless, all of this is inclusive in the beautiful and eclectic Los Angeles full of interesting people, film, culture, and life.” Find more of her work at vivianshih.com. — Katherine Aranda
FESTIVAL FILMMAKER WELCOME BRUNCH presented by the DGA (invited filmmakers and guests only)
Friday, May 4 10:00 am - 11:30 am Directors Guild of America 7920 Sunset Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90046 FESTIVAL INDUSTRY WELCOME BRUNCH presented by Nielsen (invited filmmakers and guests only)
VISIONARIES FRIDAY presented by HBO (invited guests only)
Friday, May 4 8:00 pm - 11:00 pm Directors Guild of America 7920 Sunset Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90046
#AsAmCreatorRollCall MIXER hosted by the Asian Pacific Filmmakers Experience Committee
Saturday, May 5 to Thursday, May 10 Far Bar 347 E 1st St Los Angeles, CA 90012
Saturday, May 5 10:00 am - 11:30 am Japanese American National Museum 100 N Central Ave Los Angeles, CA 90012
A•DOC RECEPTION
LT VIBES x LAAPFF vol. 2018
(invited guests only)
($5; FREE for badge holders and Centerpiece films ticket holders)
(invited filmmakers and guests only)
Saturday, May 5 10:00 pm - 2:00 am Kasih 200 S Los Angeles St Los Angeles, CA 90012
Sunday, May 6 11:00 am - 12:00 pm Far Bar 347 E 1st St Los Angeles, CA 90012
cineMERIENDA
indie WEDNESDAY presented by SAGindie Wednesday, May 9 10:00 pm - midnight 18 Social Lounge @ Hotel Indigo 899 Francisco St Los Angeles, CA 90017
Saturday, May 5 9:00 pm Señor Fish 155 S Main St Los Angeles, CA 90012
LUNCHTIME LAYOVER presented by Philippine Department of Tourism (invited filmmakers and guests only)
Sunday, May 6 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm Wolf & Crane Bar, 366 E 2nd St Los Angeles, CA 90012
($35 general; $30 members)
Sunday, May 6 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm James Irvine Japanese Garden @ JACCC 244 S San Pedro St Los Angeles, CA 90012
FESTIVAL AWARDS CEREMONY
CLOSING NIGHT PARTY presented by Tiger Beer
(invited filmmakers and guests only)
($35; FREE for badge holders and Closing Night film ticket holders)
Thursday, May 10 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm Japanese American National Museum 100 N Central Ave Los Angeles, CA 90012
Thursday, May 10 9:30 pm - 11:30 pm Japanese American Cultural & Community Center 244 S San Pedro St Los Angeles, CA 90012
(registered guests only)
Saturday, May 5 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm Opodz 362 E 2nd St Los Angeles, CA 90012 DIGITAL HISTORIES RECEPTION
PAST//FORWARD GALA: COMING HOME Saturday, May 12 6:00 pm - 11:00 pm USC Town & Gown Ballroom 665 Exposition Blvd Los Angeles, CA 90089 Visit vconline.org/VC50 for more info
Unless otherwise noted, entrance fees to parties can only be purchased at the door. 7 • A BOUT OU R AR T
PARTIE S & AFTE RHOURS • 8
FESTIVAL SPONSORS PLATINUM
STAR
GOLD GOVERNMENT
SILVER
BRONZE FOUNDATION
MEDIA
9 • #L A APFF2 0 18
FE STIVAL SPONSORS • 10
IN KIND
HANDCRAFTED ICE CREAM
contemporary indonesian cuisine
Here’s to challenging perspectives and empowering communities.
Comcast NBCUniversal is proud to support Visual Communications and the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival. We are pleased to accept the Influencer Award, and would like to salute this year’s fellow honorees. VENUES
Cornerstone Award Doug Aihara Past/Forward Award Renee Tajima-Pena Thank you for supporting the voices of Asian American & Pacific Islander filmmakers and media artists. COMCASTCORPORATION.COM
11 • FE STI VAL S P ON S O RS
OPENING NIGHT
CLOSING NIGHT
SEARCHING
MATANGI / MAYA / M.I.A.
Aneesh Chaganty / USA / 2018 / 101 mins
Stephen Loveridge / USA / 2018 / 94 mins
After David Kim (John Cho)’s 16-year-old daughter goes missing, a local investigation is opened and a detective is assigned to the case. But 37 hours later and without a single lead, David decides to search the one place no one has looked yet, where all secrets are kept today: his daughter’s laptop.
The Festival closes with a decade long documentary on one of the most controversial musicians/artists in the world, Mathangi “Maya” Arulpragasam, better known to the world as M.I.A.. Chronicling her life from London immigrant teenager to international popstar, MATANGI / MAYA / M.I.A. is suitably disordered, provocative, and authentic in chronicling the life one of the most provocative personalities working in music today.
We are very excited to open the Festival with the Sundance NEXT Audience Award winner SEARCHING from director Aneesh Chaganty and #StarringJohnCho. This innovative film, which takes place all within a computer screen, is a unique experiment that is very outside-the-box, yet it all takes place within the “box” of a computer screen. Stretching the parameters of genre cinema that may, on the surface, be limiting, Chaganty’s deft direction, coupled with an intense performance by Cho, showcases a new voice in Asian American and genre filmmaking, much like how Jordan Peele’s GET OUT flipped the script on horror film conventions. – Anderson Le
Digital artist turned director Steve Loveridge culls a cache of personal tapes shot by Maya and her closest friends over the last 22 years, as we see the evolution of her mashed up, cut-and-paste identity that she curates along her artistic journey — a mercurial blend of sonic experimentation, media provocation, and impassioned, often unpopular political activism. Audiences are brought along for the ride, as Maya kept the camera rolling through her many battles with music industry suits and mainstream media, and her success and fame grew globally. — Anderson Le
Thursday, May 10 / 7:00 pm / Aratani Theatre @ JACCC Thursday, May 3 / 7:00 pm / Directors Guild of America OPENING NIGHT PARTY presented by Tiger Beer
CLOSING NIGHT PARTY presented by Tiger Beer
Join us to celebrate the launch of LAAPFF2018 after the screening!
Join us at the end of the night to celebrate the finale of LAAPFF2018!
$35 (door only); FREE for badge holders and Opening Night film ticket holders
$35 (door only); FREE for badge holders and Closing Night film ticket holders
Thursday, May 3 / 9:30 pm - 11:30 pm / Directors Guild of America
Thursday, May 10 / 9:30 pm - 11:30 pm / Japanese American Cultural & Community Center
13 • OPE NI N G N I G HT
CLOSING NIGHT• 14
CENTERPIECES
CENTERPIECES
IN THE LIFE OF MUSIC
FICTION & OTHER REALITIES
Caylee So, Visal Sok / Cambodia / 2018 / 92 mins
Bobby Choy, Steve Lee / South Korea, USA / 2018 / 85 mins
From directors Caylee So and Visal Sok, IN THE LIFE OF MUSIC is a triptych of stories divided into 3 chapters, 3 generations, and 3 worlds. It is a powerful intergenerational tale that explores love, war, and a family’s relationship to “Champa Battambang,” made famous by Sinn Sisamouth, the King of Cambodian music. The film depicts the lives of people whose world is inevitably transformed by the emergence of the Khmer Rouge.
Inspired by musician Bobby Choy’s (aka Big Phony) life, a struggling Korean American musician from New York is given an opportunity to travel as a roadie for his best friend’s world tour. When they arrive in Seoul, Bobby befriends a woman and decides to ditch the band and stay in this “land where everyone looks like him” to investigate a feeling that could potentially fill a major void in his life.
Cambodian American filmmaker Caylee So, born in a refugee camp and raised in Northern Virginia, calls Long Beach her current home base and is an active member of the Cambodian community — as a founder of the Cambodian Town Film Festival and an LAAPFF alumnus (winning the Linda Mabalot New Directors/ New Visions Award for her short film PAULINA at LAAPFF 2013). Partnering with creative director and filmmaker Visal Sok, IN THE LIFE OF MUSIC is a love letter to the legacy and resiliency of a people and culture that was almost eradicated by the Pol Pot regime told over a span of 37 years. It is with great honor that LAAPFF not only host the world premiere of IN THE LIFE OF MUSIC, but also present it as the first Cambodian-produced Festival Centerpiece film. — Anderson Le
The elevator pitch for the film would be “the Korean American version of ONCE,” but it is more than that. With charming performances from Bobby (who wears multiple hats as star, writer, producer, and co-director) and co-star Hwa-Young Im as Ina, the fellow singer-songwriter who captures his eye and heart, FICTION & OTHER REALITIES celebrates how outsiders can find human connection through the universal language of music. Joining the tradition of other major Korean American films that have been presented as the Festival's Centerpiece (K-TOWN COWBOYS and TWINSTERS), Bobby Choy's directorial debut is in good company. — Anderson Le
Saturday, May 5 / 8:00 pm / Aratani Theatre @ JACCC Saturday, May 5 / 5:00 pm / Aratani Theatre @ JACCC FICTION & OTHER REALITIES is part of the Narrative Feature Competition section IN THE LIFE OF MUSIC is part of the International Narrative Feature Competition section
15 • #L A AP FF2 0 18
CE NTE RPIECE S • 16
NARRATIVE FEATURE COMPETITION Prepare to be challenged, enlightened, shocked, and entertained as we proudly roll out this year’s excellent slate of North American Narrative Feature nominees.
AUGUST AT AKIKO'S
HANH, SOLO
Christopher Makoto Yogi / USA / 2017 / 76 mins Cosmopolitan musician Alex Zhang Hungtai (of Dirty Beaches) returns to Hawai‘i after many years away. While searching for his missing grandmother, he forms a bond with local elder Akiko, who teaches him to connect with the spirit of home he carries within him.
Jason Taylor / USA / 2017 / 86 mins This witty comedy follows the day-to-day struggles of Hanh, a twenty-something with no direction, as she tries to navigate the world around her. Fed up with settling for her boring life in Philadelphia, she decides to put her old fears and anxieties behind her
Preceded by SOLO (David Liu / 2017 / 12 mins) Sunday, May 6 / 7:15 pm / Downtown Independent
to become something different: New Hanh.
THE FEVER AND THE FRET
STAND UP MAN
Cath Gulick / USA / 2017 / 76 mins In this moving, dark fairy tale, Eleanor, a shy, artistic teen in the Bronx, is tormented for her large facial birthmarks. She begins visiting another world at night, encountering another being. But when a confrontation at school sends reality crashing down, Eleanor may have to leave her fantasy behind forever.
Aram Siu Wai Collier / Canada / 2017 / 85 mins Forced to move back to his small nowhere hometown, a wannabe comedian finds his dreams derailed in the family restaurant. Life gets more complicated when his spoiled, orange-haired teenage cousin from Korea unexpectedly shows up, sending the two on a funny and bittersweet journey of discovering new paths for themselves. Monday, May 7 / 9:45 pm / Regal L.A. LIVE
Preceded by ELLA (Dan Chen / 2017 / 16 mins) Wednesday, May 9 / 7:00 pm / Regal L.A. LIVE
Preceded by SALAMAGAN (Elisa Oh / 2017 / 13 mins) Tuesday, May 8 / 9:15 pm / Regal L.A. LIVE
FISH BONES
WHITE RABBIT
Joanne Park / USA / 2017 / 82 mins Told in a series of non-linear, visually-arresting vignettes, model Jonny Kim stars as Hana, a Korean immigrant on winter break, caught between worlds. While struggling to find peace with her conservative mother and the expectations surrounding her future, Hana begins falling for Nico, a tender and affectionate Latina music producer.
Daryl Wein / USA / 2018 / 71 mins Vivian Bang gives a delightful, refreshing performance in this whimsical Sundance hit as Sophia, a Korean American queer performance artist living in L.A. Struggling with the meaning of art and her recent break-up, she meets a free-spirited Ghanaian American photographer and develops strong feelings for her. But are the feelings reciprocated? Preceded by END OF THE LINE (Jessica Sanders / 2018 / 14 mins) Monday, May 7 / 9:15 pm / Regal L.A. LIVE
Tuesday, May 8 / 6:45 pm / Regal L.A. LIVE
FOR IZZY Alex Chu / USA / 2018 / 84 mins Dede (Michelle Ang), a photojournalist and recovering addict, moves in next door to Laura, a young woman with autism. As the pair form an unlikely friendship, Dede assembles a documentary, using animation and found footage to tell a story of sobriety, of family and friendship, and of love and forgiveness. Monday, May 7 / 7:30 pm / Regal L.A. LIVE
17 • #L AA P FF2 0 18
NARRATIVE FE ATURE COMPE TITION • 18
DOCUMENTARY FEATURE COMPETITION This year’s Documentary Competition is distinguished by emerging artists with exciting untold stories as well as subjects which hold super-apt relevancy to our changing worldview(s) today.
ANOTE'S ARK
MINDING THE GAP
Matthieu Rytz / Canada / 2018 / 77 mins Composed of 32 atolls and reef islands in the Pacific Ocean, Kiribati faces the unstoppable rise of the sea, which will engulf the nation before long. The people of Kiribati will soon be the world’s first “climate change refugees.” This deft examination of the race to preserve a culture asks: Can these people survive as their country disappears?
Bing Liu / USA / 2018 / 93 mins A personal snapshot of skateboarding and toxic masculinity, three young men bond together to escape volatile families in their Rust Belt hometown. As they face adult responsibilities, unexpected revelations threaten their decade-long friendship. This Sundance Jury Award Winner combines slick skate footage and intimate interviews to chronicle ordinary lives in transition.
Sunday, May 6 / 5:00 pm / Downtown Independent
Saturday, May 5 / 4:00 pm / Downtown Independent
CALL HER GANDA
SCIENCE FAIR
PJ Raval / Philippines, USA / 2018 / 95 min PJ Raval returns to LAAPFF with this film about grassroots activists in the Philippines who are spurred into action when a local transgender woman is found dead in a motel room, with a 19-year-old U.S. Marine as the leading suspect. As the activists demand answers and a just trial, hidden histories of U.S. colonization come bubbling to the surface in this multifaceted investigation. Friday, May 4 / 7:00 pm / AMC Dine-in Sunset 5 (21+ ONLY VENUE)
Cristina Costantini, Darren Foster / USA / 2018 / 90 mins Winner of Sundance’s first ever “Festival Favorite Award” and SXSW’s “Audience Award,” the film follows nine high school students from disparate corners of the globe as they navigate rivalries, setbacks, and hormones on their quest to win the International Science and Engineering Fair in Los Angeles. Only one can be named “Best in Fair.” Tuesday, May 8 / 7:00 pm / Regal L.A. LIVE Thursday, May 10 / 12:00 pm / CGV Cinemas (Free Screening)
CORRIDOR FOUR
ULAM: MAIN DISH
Stephen Tringali / USA / 2017 / 80 mins Challenging the image of the American hero, this film is an honest, heartfelt portrait of Pentagon 9/11 first-responder Isaac Ho’opi’i, as he works to put that traumatic experience behind him through the support of his family and his love of Hawaiian music. Ho’opi’i’s extraordinary story is one of courage, survivor’s remorse, coping, and endurance.
Alexandra Cuerdo / USA / 2017 / 80 mins “Could it be that Filipino food, the underdog of Asian cuisines, is having its moment at last?” (New York Times). Featuring Alvin Cailan (Eggslut, Unit 120), Nicole Ponseca and Miguel Trinidad (Maharlika, Jeepney), Charles Olalia (Ricebar), and more, follow the rise of the Filipino food movement via the chefs crossing over to the center of the American table. Kain na!
Preceded by FIFTEEN YEARS LATER (Manish Dayal / 2018 / 18 mins) Saturday, May 5 / 12:30 pm / East West Players
Sunday, May 6 / 4:00 pm / Aratani Theatre @ JACCC
ISLAND SOLDIER Nathan Fitch / Afghanistan, Micronesia, USA / 2017 / 85 mins The untold story of Micronesian citizens fighting America’s wars at high rates per capita, revealed through the intimate and affecting odyssey of the Nena family. Against the backdrop of a remote Pacific Island on the brink of economic collapse, the family strives for the “American Dream” while dealing with the consequences of war. Saturday, May 5 / 6:30 pm / Tateuchi Democracy Forum
19 • #L AA P FF2 0 18
DOCUME NTARY FE ATURE COMPE TITION • 20
INTERNATIONAL NARRATIVE FEATURE COMPETITION Our International Narrative Feature Competition films offer narrative works which explore and reflect the stories of our time. We’re excited to bring you the best and most provocative cinematic voices from Asia and the diaspora.
JIMAMI TOFU
OMOTENASHI
Jason Chan, Christian Lee / Japan, Singapore / 2017 / 121 mins A Chinese Singaporean chef travels to Okinawa to find the beautiful and caustic Japanese food critic who left him without a trace. This sumptuous meditation on memory and love is woven around the 100-year-old Okinawa Ryukyu Dynastic cuisine that holds the life medicine their broken hearts need to mend. Wednesday, May 9 / 6:30 pm / Regal L.A. LIVE
Jay Chern / Japan, Taiwan / 2018 / 96 mins Jacky, heir to a Taiwanese construction company, is sent to a beautiful yet obsolete hotel in Kyoto to oversee its renovation in the hopes of selling. Unaware of his hidden corporate agenda, the innkeeper suggests that he, along with her daughter, learns “omotenashi,” the virtue of traditional Japan. Watch this crowd-pleaser centered around cross-cultural relationships. Tuesday, May 8 / 6:45 pm / Regal L.A. LIVE
KISS AND SPELL
THE THIRD MURDER
Stephane Gauger / Vietnam / 2017 / 113 mins Tung is an up-and-coming magician who parties too much when his world is turned upside down by the mysterious Phuong. Romance blossoms but is immediately disrupted by ghosts—which he also can now see! The last film of Vietnamese American filmmaker Stephane Gauger, this delightful rom-com is a remake of the Korean film SPELLBOUND. Thursday, May 10 / 6:30 pm / CGV Cinemas
Hirokazu Kore-eda / Japan / 2017 / 124 mins Marking a departure from his usual fare, Japanese auteur Hirokazu Kore-eda concocts a riveting murder mystery. A top attorney takes on the defense of a murder suspect who admits guilt, despite facing the death penalty. But as he digs deeper into the case, the once confident lawyer begins to doubt if his client is the murderer after all.
NEOMANILA
WARU
Mikhail Red / Philippines, USA / 2017 / 101 mins Since President Duterte’s election, the Philippines has been in the grip of the “war on drugs,” where police use bounty hunters to kill gangsters. Toto, a street orphan, is caught in the crossfire when he’s recruited by a notorious death squad in this noir-infused explosive thriller by one of the most exciting young voices in Filipino cinema.
Chelsea Cohen, Ainsley Gardiner, Casey Kaa, Renae Maihi, Awanui Simich-Pene, Briar Grace-Smith, Paula Whetu, Katie Wolfe / New Zealand / 2017 / 88 mins A small boy, Waru, dies at the hands of his caregiver, in this powerful and challenging story surrounding his “tangi” (funeral), delving into how his death impacts the community. Directed by eight Māori women in single 10-minute takes, this mesmerizing tapestry pieces together a cohesive narrative from multiple perspectives.
Wednesday, May 9 / 9:15 pm / Regal L.A. LIVE
Thursday, May 10 / 9:00 pm / CGV Cinemas
Tuesday, May 8 / 6:30 pm / Regal L.A. LIVE
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INTE RNATIONAL NARRATIVE FEATURE COMPE TITION • 22
INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FEATURE COMPETITION Our International Documentary Feature Competition highlights new films and filmmakers from around the world. We look forward to bringing you films that exemplify the global multiplicity we live in.
ANGKAR
THE CLEANERS
Neary Adeline Hay / France / 2017 / 71 mins Filmmaker Neary Adeline Hay attempts to reconstruct her family’s— and a country’s—past, accompanying her father Khonsaly as he returns to Cambodia to meet his former Khmer Rouge persecutors in the village where they lived together for four years. Between past and present, identities are revealed, forgotten spectres re-emerge, and the story is finally told face-to-face.
Hans Block, Moritz Riesewieck / Germany, Brazil / 2018 / 88 mins Social media sites — particularly Facebook and YouTube — are under intense pressure to monitor and delete offensive, pornographic, and incendiary posts; but what if it is considered art or protest? Compassionately portraying the Filipino workers making these decisions on thousands of online images, this illuminating film exposes the dark side of information technology. Monday, May 7 / 6:30 pm / Regal L.A. LIVE
Preceded by THREE BOYS MANZANAR (Preeti Deb / 2017 / 7 mins) Saturday, May 5 / 3:00 pm / East West Players
BECOMING WHO I WAS Jin Jeon, Moon Chang-Yong / India, South Korea / 2017 / 99 mins After a boy discovers that he is the reincarnation of a centuries-old, esteemed, high-ranking Tibetan monk, his godfather takes him on an epic journey across India to discover his past in a story of profound faith and unconditional love. A poignant and charming portrait, this crowd-pleaser won the Grand Prix at Berlin. Saturday, May 5 / 5:30 pm / East West Players
LATE LIFE: THE CHIEN-MING WANG STORY Frank W. Chen / Taiwan, USA / 2018 / 99 mins Following the latter years of pitcher Chien-Ming Wang’s professional baseball career, this is the story of a man who is unwilling to give up and unable to let go, as told by those closest to him, examining his roles as an international player, a father, a son, and a reluctant national icon. Wednesday, May 9 / 6:30 pm / Regal L.A. LIVE
CHINA’S FORGOTTEN DAUGHTERS
PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF DESIRE
Meng Han, Vincent Du / China / 2017 / 70 mins Shot in a cinéma vérité style, one woman’s deeply personal journey challenges traditional notions of family and identity, revealing the wounds that 40 years of the One Child Policy has inflicted at the very heart of Chinese society. As Cai Fengxia searches for the biological parents who abandoned her, can she reconcile both her own expectations and those of her family’s?
Hao Wu / China, USA / 2018 / 95 mins In a digital universe where live streamers earn as much as $200K a month, can virtual relationships replace real-life human connection? Join two online stars doing just that—rising from isolation to fame and fortune in China. Brought together in a series of bizarre competitions, they discover that happiness in their virtual world may be as elusive as in the real one. Catch this SXSW Winner by LAAPFF alumnus Hao Wu.
Preceded by DEAR MOTHER (Matthew Kaundart / 2018 / 5 mins) Thursday, May 10 / 2:00 pm / CGV Cinemas (Free Screening)
Saturday, May 5 / 6:30 pm / Downtown Independent
SINGING WITH ANGRY BIRD Hyewon Jee / South Korea / 2016 / 88 mins Five years ago, a Korean opera singer, a.k.a. Angry Bird, started a children’s choir in India. Frustrated by the lack of support from the parents, he decides to train the parents to sing for a joint concert. While it may be the toughest challenge of his life, the experience has a profound effect on the adults as well as the kids in this uplifting, feel-good doc. Thursday, May 10 / 10:00 am / CGV Cinemas (Free Screening)
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INTE RNATIONAL DOCUME NTARY FEATURE COMPE TITION • 24
SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS Pay special attention to our Special Presentations as we revisit stories from our heritage, history, and identities, and discover how they still hold true to the stories we try to tell today.
THE CHINESE EXCLUSION ACT
OUT OF STATE
Ric Burns, Li-Shin Yu / USA / 2017 / 160 mins Examine the origin, history, and impact of the 1882 law restricting Chinese labor immigration into the United States. Screening on the 136th anniversary of the Chinese Exclusion Act, watch this film before it premieres as a special presentation of American Experience on PBS SoCal on May 29 at 8:00 pm. Hosted by Center for Asian American Media and the Chinese American Museum Sunday, May 6 / 6:30 pm / Tateuchi Democracy Forum (Free Screening)
Ciara Lacy / USA / 2017 / 79 mins Shipped thousands of miles away from the islands of Hawaii to a private prison in Arizona, two native Hawaiians discover their indigenous traditions from a fellow inmate serving a life sentence. Upon release, they struggle with life as formerly incarcerated men, asking the question: can you go home again?
FIND YOUR VOICE
PRISON FOOD
Chris Herd / Australia, New Zealand / 2018 / 96 mins Elvis, an ambitious Maori rapper, returns to his native New Zealand in a quest to explore his roots. He soon becomes lost on the road to fulfillment as love, culture, and cash collide. Featuring Adam Saunders and Academy Award nominee Keisha Castle-Hughes (WHALE RIDER), this film is a fun celebration of family and culture through a young man’s spiritual odyssey. Tuesday, May 8 / 9:30 pm / Regal L.A. LIVE
Aditya Thayi / Indonesia, Philippines / 2017 / 44 mins Catch the first two episodes of this new original series by Discovery Asia, as Filipino American Chef Johneric Concordia (Founder of local L.A. restaurant The Park’s Finest) heads to some of Asia’s most notorious prisons to see what’s cooking behind bars. He meets the inmates running the prison kitchens and discovers a hotbed of human ingenuity with food.
IT'S A PARTY
PROOF OF LOYALTY
Weldon Wong Powers / USA / 2018 / 78 mins Atlanta rapper Cory Masters is late for his own surprise birthday party. While his friends anxiously await his arrival, each friend addresses their own existential crisis. Hilarity ensues amongst the party-goers as they ponder life, careers, and relationships with Cory. Get yo’ a** to the party.
Lucy Ostrander, Don Sellers / USA / 2017 / 55 mins PROOF OF LOYALTY: KAZUO YAMANE AND THE NISEI SOLDIERS OF HAWAII is about a Japanese American soldier who identified a secret document that would significantly help America’s war in the Pacific. Follow this story of Yamane and his fellow Nisei soldiers as they combatted prejudice and discrimination to loyally serve their country in World War II.
Preceded by JUST A KID FROM SEATTLE (JJ Augustavo / 2017 / 20 mins) Wednesday, May 9 / 9:30 pm / Regal L.A. LIVE
Preceded by MOVING WALLS (Sharon Yamato / 2017 / 25 mins) Saturday, May 5 / 1:15 pm / Tateuchi Democracy Forum
Sunday, May 6 / 2:00 pm / East West Players
Preceded by AMERICAN (Richie Adams / 2018 / 18 mins) Saturday, May 5 / 11:00 am / Downtown Independent
KULEANA Brian Kohne / USA / 2016 / 95 mins In a clash between Hawaiian values and the American dream, two childhood friends from Maui are faced with an important mission to save their beloved island from a deceitful real-estate developer. The two learn the most important lesson: kuleana (spiritual responsibility) is not a burden; it is a privilege. Saturday, May 5 / 9:00 pm / Tateuchi Democracy Forum
SNEAK PEEK: A NEW DARK COMEDY BY H.P. MENDOZA H.P. Mendoza / USA / 2017 / 96 mins This special sneak peek, which will be attended by H.P. Mendoza and cast, is a "home for the holidays" dark comedy where a Filipino American family plots to kill an abusive member. You won’t want to miss the advance screening of this laugh-out loud comedy before its official release! Friday, May 4 / 9:30 pm / AMC Dine-in Sunset 5 (21+ ONLY VENUE)
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SPECIAL PRE SE NTATIONS • 26
SHORTS PROGRAMS
20TH ANNIVERSARY SCREENING
Our Shorts Programs – many of which showcase our prestigious Shorts Competition nominees – range over a wide scope of stories and expressions. From stories of distinctly local flavors to tales from faraway worlds, our selection of shorts offer a variety of urban, rural, and alternative perspectives.
BEYOND OUR MEMORIES Whether reflecting on a successful career, continuing traditions from home in a new country, or seeking a better tomorrow in their own way, these non-fiction portraits show that a life worth living creates more than just memories. — Sheryl Santacruz Thursday, May 10 / 3:45 pm / CGV Cinemas / 102 mins (Free Screening)
MULAN: A SING ALONG Barry Cook, Tony Bancroft / USA / 1998 / 90 mins Fearful that her ailing father will be drafted into the Chinese military, Mulan (Ming-Na Wen) takes his spot — though, as a girl living under a patriarchal regime, she is technically unqualified to serve. She cleverly impersonates a man and goes off to train with fellow recruits. Accompanied by her dragon, Mushu (Eddie Murphy), she uses her smarts to help ward off a Hun invasion, falling in love with a dashing captain along the way. Come to an outdoor screening and celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month (APAHM) and the 20th Anniversary of Disney® favorite MULAN, as we sing along to its musical hits under the stars.
Friday, May 11 / 6:00 pm / Park Center @ Griffith Park (Free Screening) Presented by Angry Asian Man, L.A. City Councilmember David Ryu, Kore Asian Media, Pacific Bridge Arts Foundation, and Street Food Cinema.
A SECOND CHANCE (Pom Bunsermvicha, Parinee Buthrasri /Thailand / 2017 / 18 mins) ALICE AT THE STORE (Christopher Woon-Chen / USA / 2017 / 18 mins) THE HUMAN FACE (Aline Pimentel / USA / 2017 / 14 mins) MR. LAU GOES HERBAL (Janet Chen / USA / 2018 / 7 mins) STRAWBERRIES WILL SAVE THE WORLD (Yoko Okumura / USA / 2017 / 6 mins) TAILORED TO FIT (Xin Li / USA / 2017 / 21 mins) WHY THE FOOLS DANCE (Benjamin Michel / Japan, USA / 2017 / 18 mins)
DISLOCATED SELF AND BEYOND What constructs our identity? Interest? Passion? Culture? Race? Or all of them? Watch as each of the protagonists enter their own journeys to explore the definition of themselves and others. — Annie Liang Saturday, May 5 / 1:15 pm / Downtown Independent / 100 mins FAKEAPINO (Jeremy Sistoso / USA / 2017 / 16 mins) FRENCHIES (Kuan-Fu Lin / Taiwan, USA / 2017 / 12 mins) IRON HANDS (Johnson Cheng / China, USA / 2017 / 11 mins) MIMI (Jeffrey Hsueh / USA / 2017 / 2 mins) OTHELLO-SAN (Theodore A. Adams III / USA / 2018 / 21 mins) THE TRAVELER TAKAMURE (Jing Niu / USA / 2018 / 16 mins) VISAGE (Blake Hodges, Jackson Tobiska / USA / 2017 / 10 mins) THE WEIGHT OFF MY CHEST (Emory Johnson / USA / 2018 / 12 mins)
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SHORTS PROGRAMS • 28
SHORTS PROGRAMS FEMINIST AF TOO
FROM VISION TO REEL: GENERASIANS
What is Feminism? Does it mix well with Asian Culture and identities? Let's take an intersectional look on the artistic expression of our cultural zeitgeist, as we explore female friendship, sexuality, beauty standard, and the violence we rise against. — Ariel Du Monday, May 7 / 9:30 pm / Regal L.A. LIVE / 99 mins
GenerASIANS showcases the Asian and Asian American experience over multiple generations from the point of view of young, emerging filmmakers. These films represent the next generation of must-see Asian American and Pacific Islander talent. — Trent Nakamura Saturday, May 5 / 11:00 am / Tateuchi Democracy Forum / 73 mins (Free Screening)
A GENTLE NIGHT (Qiu Yang / China, France / 2017 / 15 mins) SILENCE (Priyanka Singh / India / 2017 / 11 mins) AN AMERICAN FAMILY (Truong Phan Kieu-Anh / USA, Vietnam / 2017 / 19 mins) FIRST GENERATION (Jeannie Nguyen / USA / 2017 / 9 mins) FUTURE PERFECT (Abigail Prade / Netherlands, USA / 2017 / 13 mins) MIDNIGHT GIRL (Christina Yoon / USA / 2017 / 16 mins) THE SHUTTLE (Lu Han / USA / 2017 / 16 mins)
FOREVER ALONE (OR NOT)
ITSY BITSY SHORTS
Nobody wants to end up alone and unloved. And even if we might feel like it sometimes, are we really? Bring someone with you to watch these films – or don't – we promise you won't be alone for the ride. — Dorothy Xiao Sunday, May 6 / 4:30 pm / East West Players / 94 mins
Love! Colors! Food! Dance! Dancing Food! This vibrant program of animated films is geared towards the young (ages 3+) and the young-at-heart. All ages, imaginations, and hungry bellies welcome. A special event for children will follow the screening immediately outside because we all know what happens when we make kids wait. — Jin Yoo-Kim & David Ngo Saturday, May 5 / 10:00 am / Tateuchi Democracy Forum / 28 mins (Free Screening)
100TH BIRTHDAY WISH (Chien-Hung Lien / Taiwan / 2017 / 20 mins) AKASHI (Mayumi Yoshida / Canada / 2017 / 10 mins) CLASS ASSIGNMENT (Mike Gan / USA / 2018 / 24 mins) GRAY UMBRELLA (Mohammad Poustindouz / Iran / 2017 / 8 mins) SEEKING LOVE (Zach Gelman, Jack Mullinkosson / United Kingdom, USA / 2017 / 10 mins) STARBUCKS LOVERS (Joseph Ruggieri / USA / 2017 / 7 mins) THE HIERARCHY OF NEEDS (Ryan Michael Connolly / USA / 2017 / 6 mins) YOUR HAND IN MINE (Alice Park / USA / 2017 / 9 mins)
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COMFORT-ABILITY (Primi Akhtar / USA / 2014 / 6 mins) FAIR & LOVELY (Jensine Raihan / USA / 2014 / 2 mins) HOME (Jennifer Marcelino / USA / 2016 / 5 mins) CHANGYOU’S JOURNEY (Perry S. Chen / USA / 2017 / 5 mins) CONTESTANT #4 (Kaj Palanca, Jared Joven / Philippines / 2016 / 18 mins) HASU (Alayna Kobayashi / USA / 2017 / 9 mins) LIFE IN COLOR (Melody Chen / USA / 2018 / 9 mins) MOTHER TONGUE (Kristina Wong / USA / 2017 / 6 mins) PRESCRIPTION (Calvin Lam / USA / 2017 / 1 min) SUNNY (Sam Chung / USA / 2017 / 12 mins)
FILL AND MOO (Toshiko Hata / Japan / 2017 / 8 mins) FIRST BLOOM (Tingting Liu / China, USA / 2017 / 5 mins) KONIGIRI-KUN SHOPPING (Mari Miyazawa / Japan / 2015 / 5 mins) LAST DANCE (Peter Zhaoyu Zhou / USA / 2017 / 3 mins) SESAME STUDIOS “CELEBRATE LUNAR NEW YEAR!” (Lizzi Akana / USA / 2017 / 2 mins) WATER COLORS (Takashi Yoneoka / Japan / 2017 / 1 min) THE WISHING CRANES (Ellen Arnold, Kaiya Telle, Thomas Anderholm / USA / 2017 / 4 mins)
SHORTS PROGRAMS • 30
SHORTS PROGRAMS MY SO-CALLED ADOLESCENCE
PASIFIKAS
We are resilient, stubborn, and reckless. We are sensitive, hesitant, and confused. We live in our own worlds but try to break into others’. As we come across each other in this bittersweet symphony called youth, we slowly stumble into the bewildering future together. — Lanca Li Monday, May 7 / 6:30 pm / Regal L.A. LIVE / 117 mins
Aloha! Ki Ora! Talofa! Hafa adai! These shorts made by the First Peoples of the Pacific represent a broad spectrum of themes and genres that deal with love, loss, culture clashes and connections. These are films made by Pacific Islanders about Pacific Islanders. — Anderson Le Saturday, May 5 / 4:00 pm / Tateuchi Democracy Forum / 84 mins
CYPHER (Lawrence Le Lam / Canada / 2017 / 20 mins) FUNDAMENTAL (Shih-Chieh Chiu / Taiwan / 2017 / 7 mins) LIONS IN WAITING (Jason Karman / Canada / 2017 / 17 mins) MISS WORLD (Georgia Fu / Taiwan / 2017 / 20 mins) POMMEL (Paris Zarcilla / United Kingdom / 2017 / 20 mins) WONDER BUFFALO (Christine T. Berg / USA / 2017 / 19 mins) YASAMIN (Julia Elihu / USA / 2017 / 14 mins)
NIGHTCAP Closing a weekend of galas and events, drink up this fizzy nightcap of something a little weird, sometimes scary, and wholly inappropriate with some old friends. — Sheryl Santacruz Sunday, May 6 / 9:30 pm / Downtown Independent / 95 mins ANITO (Melanie Lim / USA / 2017 / 15 mins) ASWANG NEXT DOOR (Bernard Badion / USA / 2017 / 6 mins) COSMIC DENTAL ASSOCIATES OF CLIFTON, NJ (JP Chan / USA / 2016 / 3 mins) GRIN (Tanuj Chopra / USA / 2017 / 11 mins) HOME (Sanif Olek /Singapore / 2017 / 8 mins) INN (Zion Chen / USA / 2017 / 4 mins) THE MASSEUSE (Tan Ce Ding / Malaysia / 2017 / 20 mins) RAKSHA (Meredith Koch / USA / 2016 / 20 mins) SPACE BUTTHOLE (David Chai / USA / 2017 / 8 mins)
THE NO SPIN ZONE Spinning a tale. Spinning a scandal. Spinning out of control. No matter how you spin it, go watch these films. — Kirby Peñafiel Saturday, May 5 / 9:00 pm / Downtown Independent / 96 mins AMERICAN DREAMING (Matthew Hashiguchi / USA / 2017 / 11 mins) THE DUWENDE (Odin B. Fernandez / Australia, Philippines / 2016 / 11 mins) HAIRCUT (Hanxiong Bo / China, USA / 2017 / 10 mins) IRONY (Radheya Jegatheva / Australia / 2017 / 8 mins) KILLINGS (Joseph Mangat / USA / 2017 / 10 mins) THE LOST (Neil M. Paik / USA / 2017 / 22 mins) XIN (Desha Dauchan / USA / 2017 / 12 mins) YOUR MOTHER (Mary Evangelista / Philippines, USA / 2017 / 12 mins) 31 • #L AA P FF2 0 18
AFTEREARTH (Jess X. Snow / USA / 2017 / 13 mins) CULTURAL COLLAGE (‘Inoke Hafoka / USA / 2018 / 6 mins) KA PIKO (Bryson Chun / USA / 2017 / 10 mins) LADY EVA (Dean Hamer, Joe Wilso / Tonga / 2017 / 11 mins) PRAISE SONG FOR OCEANIA (Justyn Ah Chong / USA / 2017 / 5 mins) STRONG CULTURE (Jarryd O’Keefe / Australia, Vanuatu / 2017 / 3 mins) TAMA (Jared Flitcroft, Jack O’Donnell / New Zealand / 2017/ 9 mins) WILDER PALMS (Bradley Tangonan / USA / 2017 / 12 mins) THE WORLD IN YOUR WINDOW (Zoe McIntosh / New Zealand / 2016 / 15 mins)
SECOND GENERATION QUEER sec·ond-gen·er·a·tion – adj. The offspring of immigrants to a particular country. Exploring the tension of navigating the cultural expectations of both a family from a foreign land and a society who treats you like “other,” this collection of LGBTQ shorts celebrates the beauty and texture of intersectionality. — Sheryl Santacruz Tuesday, May 8 / 9:00 pm / Regal L.A. LIVE / 95 mins ABLUTION (Omar Al Dakheel / USA / 2017 / 15 mins) DAUGHTER (Amanda Lee / USA / 2017 / 5 mins) DECODING DARKMATTER (Crystal Waterton / USA / 2017 / 21 mins) HOÀI (ONGOING/MEMORY) (Quyên Nguyen-Le / USA / 2017 / 10 mins) KHOL (OPEN) (Faroukh Virani / USA / 2018 / 12 mins) LIMBOLAND (Melanie Ramos / USA / 2017 / 18 mins) MAYBE (Kat Cole / USA / 2017 / 10 mins) RED (Yuchao Feng / USA / 2017 / 4 mins)
SHORTS PROGRAMS • 32
HBO APA VISIONARIES 2018 In a unique filmmaker support initiative between Visual Communications and HBO, we present the winning entries from the 2018 APA Visionaries Short Film Competition, in which Asian Pacific American artists bring to light their worlds, their visions, and their voices. – Abraham Ferrer Friday, May 4 / 7:00 pm / Directors Guild of America / 37 mins
JIEJIE
WE ARE A PROUD SPONSOR OF THE
2018 LOS ANGELES ASIAN PACIFIC FILM FESTIVAL
Feng-I Fiona Roan / USA / 2017 / 15 mins Embarrassed by her un-American look, Fen betrays her younger sister on their first day at church, fueling an unprecedented outburst since their immigration.
JUNE Huay-Bing Law / USA / 2017 / 12 mins Set on a Texas university campus during the 1950s, JUNE chronicles the experience of a young Chinese woman as she attends her husband’s graduation reception.
REMITTANCE Maritte Go / USA / 2018 / 10 mins A Filipino cruise worker is abroad at sea and struggling to support her family back at home. One day, she finds out her son has gone to the hospital and her world falls to pieces when she can’t get in touch.
HBO APA VISIONARIE S 20 18 • 34
ARMED WITH A CAMERA VOL. 2018 Visual Communications is proud to guide the next generation of storytellers in visualizing their amazing stories through the Armed with a Camera Fellowship. Watch these films that range from a documentary about children born to Korean immigrant liquor store owners, to a narrative on growing up a Sikh child in America. – Milton Liu Wednesday, May 9 / 8:00 pm / Regal L.A. LIVE / 34 mins
6,000 MILES
ILY
Dawn Suhyun Shim / South Korea, USA / 2018 / 5 mins 6,000 MILES is a documentary about the relationship between a mother and daughter with nothing in common. After 30 years of indifference, the estranged mother takes it upon herself late in life to learn about her daughter’s passion for photography in an attempt to communicate with her.
Jingyi Shao / USA / 2018 / 5 mins ILY, short for “I love you,” tells the story of a young woman who moves to Los Angeles with dreams of becoming an actress. Told entirely through her social media posts, we watch as she faces challenges and triumphs, and meets someone who will change her life.
BEAST
LIQUOR STORE BABIES
Johnson Cheng / USA / 2018 / 5 mins BEAST is a short documentary film exploring how street dance brought together a group of suburban Asian and Latino youths from Carson, California. Through dance, they found both brotherhood and liberation from their circumstances.
So Yun Um / USA / 2018 / 5 mins LIQUOR STORE BABIES explores the intersecting lives of two friends and their liquor store owning fathers. Director/star So Yun Um pulls from true-life experience, contrasting two sides of the same coin. She captures a candid look at how their lives and dreams are connected.
THE CARTOONIST
WRECK IT RAJ
Rajendra Thakurathi / USA / 2018 / 5 mins After her relationship ends abruptly, a cartoonist, whose head is always up in the clouds, must learn to come down to earth.
Varun Chopra / USA / 2018 / 5 mins A preteen’s zany perspective of growing up awkward and ethnically different in suburban America.
HORNET’S REVENGE Jing Niu / USA / 2018 / 4 mins Hornet, the leader of an all-girl skate group, is working at her family’s restaurant when a customer starts harassing her. Split between doing what she’s told and seeking vengeance, Hornet must come face to face with her own anger.
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ARMED WITH A CAMERA IS PROUDLY SPONSORED BY:
ARME D WITH A CAME RA VOL. 20 18 • 36
DIGITAL HISTORIES:
OUR STORIES, NOW TOLD
Visual Communications’ Digital Histories program engages the passion of our elders to tell their stories in movie form. This year the seniors transformed an illness into a triumphant narrative, unearthed a forgotten jazz club in Little Tokyo, and explored how the first Japanese American Buddhist Taiko group came to be. – Gary Gabisan Sunday, May 6 / 1:00 pm / Aratani Theatre @ JACCC / 107 mins
ABANDONED FABRIC
THE FINALE CLUB
Kevin Shore / USA / 2018 / 6 mins A bag of kimonos meant for the trash changed the course of Sumi Foley’s life. Born in Osaka, Japan, Sumi was inspired by her grandmother who taught her how to sew and would delight her with captivating bedtime stories. This film is a colorful journey of creativity, imagination, and family.
Robert Shoji / USA / 2018 / 12 mins In 1946, a confluence of music, race, and politics led to a historic performance at The Finale Club. Two jazz greats – Charlie Parker and Miles Davis – played at the club when Little Tokyo was Bronzeville and the Japanese American community was vanquished due to unfounded war hysteria.
THE ARTS DISTRICT WITHOUT ARTISTS
HOLIDAY BOWL
Steve Nagano / USA / 2018 / 7 mins Forced Removal! Evictions! Evictions! Reminiscent of the past, artists are being forced to move, “relocate,” after years of living and working in one of the first designated Artists-in-Residence buildings in Los Angeles. The new owners, a subsidiary of an international bank, of the Joannes Building, began the evictions immediately.
A CENTENARIAN PLUS SIX Michi Tanioka / USA / 2018 / 7 mins Lillian Wong was born in 1912. Applying to college, her heart was set on attending USC and her father decided to pay the higher tuition to educate a “girl.” At USC, the Chinese Women’s Club invited Chinese men from Cal Tech and that is when Lillian’s life became more interesting.
DANCING THROUGH LITTLE TOKYO David Osako / USA / 2018 / 7 mins Late in life, a man is inspired by the annual Nisei Week Festival to reconnect with his roots by learning various forms of Japanese dance. He finds a legendary choreographer to teach him the classical Japanese style. And he discovers Elvis impersonators who teach him alternate forms of Japanese-American dance.
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Mitchell Matsumura / USA / 2018 / 6 mins The Holiday Bowl: a gathering place for a community and a generation, where all peoples came together in urban Los Angeles. It was a refuge for the stresses of life. The community celebrated its opening in 1958 until it closed in disbelief in 2000.
JEFF IMADA: BREAKING BARRIERS BY DESIGN Cory Shiozaki / USA / 2018 / 10 mins Jeff Imada was a pre-med student at UCLA before an opportunity to work on a movie as an extra created a totally different career choice. A road not often taken by Japanese Americans, the lure of working in the entertainment industry on screen set the stage for an entirely different occupation... stuntman.
KINDNESS IS CONTAGIOUS, GIVING IS AN ADDICTION Tracy Quan-Nichols / USA / 2018 / 6 mins After volunteering to make costumes for her son’s school theatre production, a returning Digital Histories filmmaker learns that it is never too late to give.
DIGITAL HISTORIE S: OUR STORIE S, NOW TOLD • 38
DIGITAL HISTORIES:
OUR STORIES, NOW TOLD
NOTE TO SELF
TAIKO REFLECTIONS
Carol Shubin / USA / 2018 / 5 mins With a demanding schedule and mounting stresses, 22-year old Casey struggles to balance responsibilities while finding joy. Reflecting on her childhood memories, she discovers that happiness is a choice and it’s the simple things that keep her grounded. This film is a reminder to never lose your inner child.
Barbara Shore / USA / 2018 / 9 mins Johnny Mori and George Abe tell stories of how the first Japanese American Buddhist Taiko group came to be, fifty years ago. Share in a lifetime of lessons, and be fed by the sounds of the shakuhachi and the Taiko drum.
“ON MY HONOR…” BILL SHISHIMA VOLUNTEER EXTRAORDINAIRE
THE TRAVELING RICE POT
Fran Ito / USA / 2018 / 6 mins With roots in El Pueblo, Los Angeles’ beginnings, Bill Shishima was incarcerated in Heart Mountain, WY before becoming a boy scout and raising the daily flag. His upbringing and camp experiences led him to become a leader in the Japanese American community as a president, teacher, docent, tour guide, and quintessential volunteer.
RAY ROCKS WITH HAIR, TAP, AND HIP-HOP Gerry Chow / USA / 2018 / 5 mins Ray Remo owns a friendly neighborhood hair salon in Sherman Oaks, California. When he’s not managing his shop and caring for his clients, he’s pursuing his passion for dance. At an age usually reserved for retirement, Ray looks forward to perfecting his tap and hip-hop moves every week.
George Wada / USA / 2018 / 5 mins This is the story of a rice pot that became part of a family – observing their journey from East LA to the internment camps, being deported to Japan and coming back to the US, and then being replaced by modern technology.
WITHIN THE OPEN DOORS OF A SHINTO CHURCH IN BOYLE HEIGHTS Irene Paul / USA / 2018 / 6 mins A sense of place is experienced by walking through the open doors of a Shinto church located in Los Angeles’ Boyle Heights neighborhood and by meeting the head minister and church members.
SAY YES TO YOUR HEART George Takaki / USA / 2018 / 10 mins A 79-year-old man wants to join a rock climbing gym but his granddaughter tries to dissuade him. They agree to a one-month trial. Disaster strikes when Grandpa is stricken with shingles. After a sixmonth layoff and still feeling weak, Grandpa returns to the gym to either quit or persevere.
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DIGITAL HISTORIES IS PROUDLY SPONSORED BY:
DIGITAL HISTORIE S: OUR STORIE S, NOW TOLD • 40
SPOTLIGHT ON TAIWAN
SEIKATSU ROOM
The 34th Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival shines a light on the country of Taiwan, highlighting the best in Taiwanese cinema and the country’s rich culture and history that have shaped the island nation into one of the most dynamic countries in the Asia-Pacific Rim. This year, LAAPFF is honored to present two feature films — Jay Chern’s third feature film, OMOTENASHI, and Frank W. Chen’s documentary LATE LIFE: THE CHIEN-MING WANG STORY. OMOTENASHI, from LAAPFF Award winner Jay Chern (THIEF, LAAPFF 2014), stars Edison Wang as Jacky, the young heir to a construction company in Taiwan. His father sends him to Kyoto to oversee the renovation of the beautiful yet obsolete Bright Moon Ryokan. Jacky is going in hopes to get back his ex-girlfriend Naoko and to sell the hotel. There, he meets the innkeeper Mistuko and her daughter Rika. Unaware of his hidden agenda, the innkeeper is excited about the idea of turning the hotel into a wedding venue, and suggests that Jacky learns "omotenashi,” the virtue of traditional Japanese hospitality LATE LIFE: THE CHIEN-MING WANG STORY could be best described as a baseball version of LINSANITY. Directed by Frank W. Chen and produced by Brian Yang (coincidentally, who also produced the eponymous Jeremy Lin documentary), chronicles Taiwanese baseball player Chien-Ming Wang’s last ditch effort to be recruited back on a professional baseball team after a series of injuries disrupted his trailblazing career in the major leagues. In addition to these two features, this year’s spotlight also highlights the works of emerging Taiwanese filmmakers with three short films — 100th BIRTHDAY WISH by Lien Chien Hung, MISS WORLD by Georgia Fu, and FUNDAMENTAL by Shih-Chieh Chiu. As LAAPFF is an Academy Award®-qualifying festival for Short Film Awards, perhaps these new directors will one day be the next Ang Lee.
In Japanese social science, seikatsu (生活) is similar to livelihood; the conscious and non-submissive activity of ordinary people in shaping their lives. Join us for a special two-day lineup of programming that celebrates the livelihood of communities. Each day is anchored with a program curated from the Visual Communications Archives – one of the largest photographic and moving image archives on Asian Pacific experiences in America. The lineup will feature a range of visual histories, literary presentations, and live readings. The programs are built by a group of partners from the VC family: Christine Bacareza Balance (Afterlives of Martial Law), Abraham Ferrer (VC Archives), Tad Nakamura (Nikkei Democracy Project), Marie Jamora (Cinema Sala), and the Chinese American Museum. For more info on films and the screening schedule, please visit festival.vconline.org. The Seikatsu Room is presented at 341 FSN (formerly the Matsumura Gift Shop), on Historic First Street North. Saturday, May 5 and Sunday, May 6 / 12:00 pm - 8:00 pm / 341 FSN (Free Admission)
Sponsored by the Historic Cultural Neighborhood Council (Little Tokyo) Sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, Republic of China (Taiwan) and Taiwan Academy in Los Angeles
41 • SPOTLI G HT ON TAI WAN
SE IKATSU ROOM • 42
#ASAMCREATORROLLCALL
INTERACTIVE
CORNER CINEMA 360 ° Saturday, May 5 / 12:00 pm - 6:00 pm / Japanese American National Museum (Free and Open to the Public) Immerse yourself in the story! Technology and storytelling intersect in these virtual reality experiences that put you at the center of the narrative. Expand your worldview with boundary-pushing works that celebrate AAPI experiences, not as a passive viewer, but as an active participant.
THE EPISODICS Sunday, May 6 / 12:00 pm / East West Players A panel of Asian American filmmakers present their latest episodic projects and discuss this new and exciting avenue for content creators. After the screening, the conversation will center on developing and pitching episodic content, and panelists will share key insight for activating pilot screenings.
Presenters: SUSANE LEE AND ANDREW OLSEN susaneLand A dark comedic anthology revolving around the awkward misfortunes of a young Asian American woman.
X DEAN LIM First World Problems In the absence of real problems, a desperate father tries to prevent himself and his family from becoming douchebags.
JOSHUA FU Ching Chong Blues A darkly comedic anthology series that examines Asian-American identity.
VERA MIAO Two Sentence Horror Stories A horror series that taps into our universal primal fears in the digital age.
43 • #ASAM C RE ATO RROLLC A L L : T H E EPI S O DI C S
MOTION PICTURE EDITORS GUILD
PROUDLY SUPPORTS
Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival
I.A.T.S.E. LOCAL 700 editorsguild.com • 323.876.4770
C3: THE CONFERENCE FOR CREATIVE CONTENT presented by NIELSEN
THE 8TH EDITION OF C3: THE CONFERENCE FOR CREATIVE CONTENT AT THE LOS ANGELES ASIAN PACIFIC FILM FESTIVAL! C3 connects industry professionals to create dialogues on the ever-changing media landscapes as we build a collective vision for our creative communities. We’re excited to bring the eighth edition of C3 to the opening weekend of the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival, Saturday, May 5 at the Japanese American National Museum.
C3: CONFERENCE SCHEDULE SATURDAY, MAY 5 / Starting at 10:00 am Japanese American National Museum 10:00 am
2:45 pm
FESTIVAL INDUSTRY BRUNCH
WHERE ARE OUR APA FILM CRITICS & JOURNALISTS?
Sponsored by NIELSEN (invited filmmakers and guests only)
12:00 pm CRAZY | RICH | ASIANS Sponsored by Warner Bros & SAG-AFTRA
SPONSORED BY
Building off of our previous C3 Conferences with an initial focus on content creative, our latest edition spotlights innovators and visionaries whose creative work advances our industry and communities.
CRAZY RICH ASIANS is the first feature length, major Hollywood production to feature an entirely Asian and Asian American cast. Join director Jon M. Chu, screenwriter Adele Lim, and stars from the film for a conversation about the groundbreaking production.
1:30 pm BUILDING US UP
PRICING
Sponsored by the Directors Guild of America
(All-Day Conference Pass) FREE to Badge Holders $20 for Students, Seniors, & VC Members $25 for General Public
How do you become the agent of your own story? Industry-leading visionaries — Carrie Lozano (IDA), Sonya Childress (Firelight Media), Senain Kheshgi (MAJORITY), and Tilane Jones (ARRAY) — discuss what it takes to create, build, and cultivate spaces that reflect the specific career needs and challenges faced by women of color in film.
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As conversations about representation in media capture headlines, the need for our own critical voices and perspectives to be heard becomes evermore salient. Join LA Times film writer and LA Film Critics Association member Jen Yamato, Deadline Hollywood associate editor Dino-Ray Ramos, African American Film Critics Association founder Gil Robertson, and more for a deep dive into the current state of film critics of color.
4:00 pm DON’T CALL IT A COMEBACK Sponsored by NBCUniversal Talent Infusion Programs Directors, showrunners, and talent discuss the evolving presence and visibility of South Asians in film and television.
5:15 pm THE STORIES WE TELL Sponsored by Writers Guild of America West An intimate conversation about what it takes to push the boundaries of television and broadcast content from Asian American showrunners at the top of their game.
7:00 pm #AsAmCreatorRollCall MIXER Presented by the Asian Pacific Filmmakers Experience Committee Opodz 362 E 2nd St Los Angeles, CA 90012 Cap off the Conference by celebrating our creators. 47 • #L AA P FF2 0 18
C3 CONFE RE NCE • 48
PROUD SPONSOR
of the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival and C3: Conference for Creative Content SAGAFTRA.org
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STAFF LIST VISUAL COMMUNICATIONS BOARD OF DIRECTORS Jodi Long, President Phil Yu, Vice President Douglas Aihara, Treasurer Alison Chin Christina Chou Hieu Ho Marissa Kitazawa David Kwan Walt Louie Clayton Yeung Francis Cullado EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Francis Cullado ARCHIVES & DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Abraham Ferrer DIGITAL HISTORIES MEDIA INSTRUCTOR Gary Gabisan GRANT WRITER | MEMBERSHIP COORDINATOR Ashley Lin ARMED WITH A CAMERA | FISCAL SPONSORSHIPS Milton Liu STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS DIRECTOR Rachelle Samson OFFICE & FINANCE MANAGER Susan Soohoo BRANDING & COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER Dorothy Xiao Interns Melody Chen Jonathan Laluces Brian Kohaya
FESTIVAL STAFF EXECUTIVE PRODUCER Francis Cullado FESTIVAL ADMINISTRATION Eseel Borlasa Emory Johnson Chanel Kong Anderson Le David Magdael Kirby Peñafiel Rachelle Samson Sheryl Santacruz Janna Wang Dorothy Xiao
5 5 • #L AA PF F2 0 18
ARTISTIC CONSULTANT Anderson Le
MEDIA PRODUCTION & PRINT TRAFFIC MANAGER Kirby Peñafiel
ART DESIGN & PRODUCTION Michelle Roque, Program Guide Layout Designer
PRESS & PUBLICITY DIRECTOR David Magdael
PRINT TRAFFIC COORDINATOR Laila Hajjali
Vivian Shih, Festival Key Artist Farrah Su Jaclyn Wu
PROGRAMMING MANAGER Sheryl Santacruz
MEDIA PRODUCTION ASSOCIATE Josaen Ronquillo
PROGRAMMING Sumiko Braun Francis Cullado Jiayi Ariel Du Abraham Ferrer Jeremy Gaudette Chanel Kong Anderson Le Lanca Li Annie Liang Lindy Leong David Magdael Kirby Peñafiel Melanie Ramos Sheryl Santacruz Ryan Wu Dorothy Xiao Phil Yu Program Curators Christine Bacareza Balance (Digital Histories) Abraham Ferrer (Armed With A Camera) Gary Gabisan (Digital Histories) Milton Liu (Armed With A Camera) Trent Nakamura (From Vision to Reel) Guest Curators Micki Davis Jin Yoo-Kim David Ngo
STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS DIRECTOR Rachelle Samson SPONSORSHIPS & MARKETING COORDINATOR Janna Wang SPONSORSHIPS ASSOCIATE Yong-Yi Chiang MEMBERSHIP COORDINATOR Ashley Lin GUEST SERVICES COORDINATOR Jaclyn Wu COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT COORDINATOR Janna Wang OPERATIONS MANAGER Eseel Borlasa PRODUCTION COORDINATOR Ryan Fukuda VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR Farrah Su BOX OFFICE MANAGER Yosilu Chen
PROGRAM COORDINATORS Udval Altangerel Elaine Dolalas Emory Johnson Lindy Leong Priscila Alegría Núñez Sultankazy Pirzhan uulu
BOX OFFICE ASSOCIATES Nichole Alvarez Matthew Fernandez Marco Juarez
PROGRAM ASSOCIATES Jonathan Laluces Brian Kohaya
RECEPTION MANAGER Susan Soohoo
SPECIAL EVENTS MANAGER Tammy Borrero
FESTIVAL TRAILER Alice Hsieh, Animator Jaraad Nageer, Editor FESTIVAL TRAILER MUSIC "A Lil More (feat. Bambu)" by Otayo Dubb; produced by Fatgums, and Bass guitar by Chris "Bubba" Baylon. From the album, Cold Piece of Work, released by Beatrock Music on September 13, 2011. Used by permission. PRESS & PUBLICITY David Magdael & Associates, Inc. Nathalie Cortes Elisha Gustafson Vince Johnson Merissa Lauron Benny Magdael David Magdael Francisco Sanchez SEIKATSU (生活) ROOM Eseel Borlasa, Program Coordinator Christine Bacareza Balance (Afterlives of Martial Law) Chinese American Museum Lennox Chaiveera Abraham Ferrer (VC Archives) Marie Jamora (Cinema Sala) Tad Nakamura (Nikkei Democracy Project) Tina Takemoto C3: THE CONFERENCE FOR CREATIVE CONTENT Tracy Nguyen-Chung, Conference Producer C3 PANELISTS & MODERATORS (AS OF 4/13) Claire Aguilar Sonya Childress Jon M. Chu Senain Kheshgi Tilane Jones Traci Lee Adele Lim Dino-Ray Ramos Gil Robertson Naren Shankar Jen Yamato
BRANDING & COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER Dorothy Xiao COMMUNICATIONS ASSOCIATES Melody Chen Katherine Aranda Lailanie Gadia Arielle Bagood Lennox Chaiveera
STAFF LIST • 56
DEMOCRACY WILL BREAK YOUR HEART.
SPECIAL THANKS JAPANESE AMERICAN CULTURAL & COMMUNITY CENTER
Amy Kato Andrew Ahn, BOO’S PHILLY CHEESESTEAK Andrew Cave, PHILIPPINE DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM Andy Lowe, EAST WEST PLAYERS Angelia Trinidad, PASSION PLANNER Annie Choi, FOUND COFFEE
Asian American Documentary Network Ava Goldson, HBO Axel Caballero, HBO Benny Magdael, DAVID MAGDAEL & ASSOCIATES Britney Borlasa Carol Onaga, JAPANESE AMERICAN CULTURAL &
Grant Sunoo, LITTLE TOKYO SERVICE CENTER Hannah Yang Hieu Ho, BUZZFEED Hiro Matsui, ASAHI Historical Neighborhood Cultural Council Ivy Tseng, TAIWAN ACADEMY Jaclyn Lee, PASSION PLANNER Janet Chen, UCLA CENTER FOR ETHNOCOMMUNICATIONS
Janice D. Tanaka Janice Pober, SONY Jaren Bonillo, CALIFORNIA ARTS COMMISSION Jason and Mayumi Easton, MY RAMEN BAR Jason McLagan Jax Deluca, NATIONAL ENDOWMENT OF THE ARTS Jeanmarie Hance, METRO Jen Yamato, LOS ANGELES TIMES Jennie Cheng, CITY NATIONAL BANK Jennifer Kim, IW GROUP
Chance & Boggs Charles Hernandez, AMC DINE-IN SUNSET 5 Charles Van Houten Chris Araquel, THE PARK’S FINEST Christina Chou, CREATIVE ARTISTS AGENCY Christine Balance Christopher Hiti, SIMPLEDCP Cindy Oda Claire Aguilar, INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY
Jim Herr Jodi Long Joe Smoke, DEPARTMENT OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS Joel Jacinto Johneric Concordia, THE PARK’S FINEST Jonathan Hale, INVENTIVE LIGHTING Joyce Chuk, SUN NOODLE Justin Saka, LT VIBES Karen L. Ishizuka Karla Lozano, HBO Kasey Farrar, TIGER BEER Kent Matsuoka Kiyomi Emi, CENTER
ASSOCIATION
THEATRE GROUP
Clayton Campbell Clayton Yeung, NIELSEN Clement Hanami, JAPANESE AMERICAN NATIONAL
Kristin Fukushima, LITTLE TOKYO COMMUNITY
COMMUNITY CENTER Cat Rotunno, SONY Catherine Park, GIANT ROBOT Chace Kim, CGV CINEMAS
MUSEUM
Courtney Miller, HBO Dan Kwong Darrien Gipson, SAGINDIE Daryn Wakasa David Kwan David Magdael, DAVID MAGDAEL & ASSOCIATES Dean Matsubayashi, LITTLE TOKYO SERVICE CENTER
Dennis Amith Dino-Ray Ramos, DEADLINE HOLLYWOOD
DJ Icy Ice Dominique Miller, LITTLE TOKYO SERVICE CENTER Dominique Robinson, HBO Don Tahara Douglas Aihara Duane Kubo, VC FOUNDER Eddie Wong, VC FOUNDER Edmund Soohoo Elaine Dolalas, THIS FILIPINO AMERICAN LIFE PODCAST
Elisha Gustafson, DAVID MAGDAEL & ASSOCIATES Elizabeth Lim, JAPANESE AMERICAN NATIONAL MUSEUM
Kristine Delacruz, CREME CARAMEL Krizia Mendenilla & Jason Espiritu, OKI POKI Kuniharu Yoshida Kyra Lewis, HBO LA City Councilmember David Ryu, District 4 Lani Monos, SONY Lauren & Ryu Tanabe, DEGUCHI GRAPHICS
PHILIPPINE DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM Risa Oyama, MIYAKO HOTEL Robert & Wende Lee, PRINT SPOT Robert Nakamura, VC FOUNDER
Ron Fong Rosemary Danon Ryan Suda, BLACKLAVA S. Leo Chiang Sara Metz, NATIONAL ENDOWMENT OF THE ARTS Scott Oshima, SUSTAINABLE LITTLE TOKYO Senain Kheshgi, MAJORITY Siobhan Collins, LA COLOMBE COFFEE Sonya Childress, FIRELIGHT MEDIA Stephen & Patty Nagano Stephen Gong, CENTER FOR ASIAN AMERICAN MEDIA Steven J. Kung Street Food Cinema Susan Jin Davis Susu Attar Tadashi Nakamura Tae Hong, KORE ASIAN MEDIA Tak Suzuki, LITTLE TOKYO SERVICE CENTER Talia Gibas, LOS ANGELES COUNTY ARTS COMMISSION
Tammy Borrero, UCLA LUSKIN SCHOOL OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS
Tim Webber, DIRECTORS GUILD OF AMERICA Tina Takemoto Vince Johnson, DAVID MAGDAEL & ASSOCIATES Walt Louie, FLASH CUTS
A P L AY W I T H A M U S I CA L
& FAMILY’S BEEF Leslie Ito, JAPANESE AMERICAN CULTURAL & COMMUNITY CENTER Lilian Wouters, JINS EYEWEAR Linda Ngay, KORE ASIAN MEDIA Lisa Dosch, MPEG Mai Tran-Lanza, WGAW Mari Nakazawa, MEIJI FOODS
Marie Jamora Marissa Kitazawa Marvin Yueh, KOLLABORATION Masashi Niwano, CENTER FOR ASIAN AMERICAN MEDIA
Mayra Ocampo, DIRECTORS GUILD OF AMERICA Maysie Hoy Mayumi Watanabe, MIYAKO HOTEL Merissa Lauron, DAVID MAGDAEL & ASSOCIATES Michael Francisconi, WOLF AND CRANE Michael Hernandez, AEG Michelle Ko Michelle Sugihara, CAPE Miguel Sevilla, ABS-CBN INTERNATIONAL Mini Timmaraju, COMCAST NBCUNIVERSAl Minjoo Choi, CGV CINEMAS Mitsuko Brooks, LITTLE TOKYO SERVICE CENTER Nathalie Cortes, DAVID MAGDAEL & ASSOCIATES Nina Shi, IW GROUP Pam DiMaria, CITY NATIONAL BANK Peter Gonzaga, PACIFIC RIM PHOTO VIDEO PRESS Phil Yu, ANGRY ASIAN MAN Philip Sokoloski, FILMLA Quan Phung Rachel Noguchi, CITY NATIONAL BANK
Play and Lyrics by
David Henry Hwang
MAY
Ellen Huang, SAG-AFTRA Emmy Yang, TAIWAN ACADEMY Eric “Fatgums” Strand, BEATROCK MUSIC Eric Lo, CITY NATIONAL BANK Erick Alvizures, SAG-PRODUCERS IACF Ernest Kerr, KERR & ASSOCIATES Estella Tran & Sally Tsoi, THE FREEZIN’ POINT Estevan Montemayor Florante Ibanez Francisco Sanchez, DAVID MAGDAEL & ASSOCIATES Gary Gabisan George A. Okamoto Giselle Tongi, TANDUAY RUM Grace Borrero Moss,NBCUNIVERSAL
COUNCIL
Randy Masada, LT VIBES Rebecca Zada, HBO Renee Tajima-Peña Rex Carlson, FIRST STREET CUISINE Rey Luna, HBO Richmond Jimenez,
57 • SPEC I AL T HAN K S
Music and Additional Lyrics by
Jeanine Tesori
03- 10 JUN
Akemi Kondo Dalvi Alan Kondo Alan Ohashi, VC FOUNDER Alex Kim Alison Chin, PARAMOUNT Alison De La Cruz,
Choreography by
Sam Pinkleton
Directed by
Leigh Silverman
AHMANSONTHEATRE.ORG I 213.972.4400 Pictured: Conrad Ricamora
VC MEMBERS AND DONORS Visual Communications is a full-service media arts organization serving our Asian Pacific American communities year-round. Our programs are only possible through the support of many VC Members and individual donors. We would like to acknowledge our awesome contributors! (from April 1st, 2017 to April 1st, 2018)
$25,000+ Aratani Foundation George A. Okamoto $10,000+ Asian Pacific Community Fund SAG-Producers IACF $5,000+ David Kwan $2,500+ Akemi Kondo Dalvi Alan & Ruth Kondo David Magdael Douglas & Chris Aihara Edmund & Susan Soohoo Jodi Long Karen L. Ishizuka & Robert Nakamura Maysie Hoy Phil Yu & Joanna Lee Quan Phung & Michelle Ko Rosemary Danon Walt Louie & Cheryl Yoshioka $1,000+ Bruce & Joy Morimoto George Takei Gerald Chow Gwen Yamasaki Michael Skolnik Rose Burton Russell Hiroto Tamlyn Tomita Tenaya Senzaki Yaeko Aihara Yvonne & Alan Nishio $500+ Alvin & Marsha Wakasa Anthony Cookson Carol Tanita Christina Chou Clayton Yeung & Sam Lucas Elizabeth Sung & Peter A. Tulipan Evelyn Yoshimura & Bruce Iwasaki Henry Chan Janice Tanaka Jeff Furamura Lindsay Miyamoto Robert Takahashi $250+ Albert Aubin Akemi Kikumura Yano
59 • #L #LAAAP APFF2 FF20018 18
Amy Hill Arthur Dong Carol Yoshida Caroline Tsaw Catherine Lee David Osako Dennis Wong FIA Insurance Services Glenn Omatsu H. Chris Taga James & Jennie Lew Tugend James Herr James Hong Cindy Oda Janet Ito Jeanette Wong Jenny Tugend Joanne Sakai Kathy Tokudomi Ken Wada Kenyon Chan Kyle & Kimberly Harimoto Lewis Kawahara Maciek Kolodziejczak Michi Tanioka Mina T. Son Kenji Oda Noriaki Ito Patricia Richardson Paul Shishima Peter & Tina Chow Pyong Kong Qris Yamashita & Chris Komai Renee Tajima-Peña S. Leo Chiang Sharon Yamato Soham Mehta Stephanie Huie Stephen Gong Steve & Patty Nagano Vanessa Joe William & Denice Hoy $100+ Akira Boch Alexandra Hsu Anderson Le Anthony Lee Barbara Shore Brian Yang Carrie Morita Casimiro Tolentino Cecilia Hyoun Charlie Hsu Dan Kuramoto David Kono Deanne Sakaguchi Derek Mio Dinh Thai Dom & Sachiko Magwili Donna Ebata
Donna Mori Dorothy Xiao Duc Nguyen Edith Lim Edwin Li Eric Kurimura Erica Mu Eurie Chung Faroukh Virani Frances & Amber Ito Gail Yasunaga George Takaki George Wada Glenn Suravech Glenn Togawa Grace Lee Grace Moss Grant & Mine Tsugawa Hubert Cheng Jan Fukuhara Janice D. Tanaka Jeanne Tong Jeff Dohzen Jeff Liu Jeff Man Jeffrey Chin Jennifer Phang Jeremy Gaudette Jessika Lawrence Joanne Cabanting & Johann Diel John Akahoshi John Esaki & Amy Kato Kalpna Singh-Chitnis Kelvin Yee Kenneth T. & Ruby Maya Kien Vuu Kip Fulbeck Kitty Lew Krystle Tabujara & Tim Kiefer Larry Furukawa Linda Maram Lloyd & Tazuko Inui Lloyd Kajikawa Loren & Myrna Nakamura Lucy Burns Maria Soccor Mark & Kathy Masaoka Masao Kodani Michael Peskura N.J. Nakamura Nancy Gohata Naomi Hirahara Neal Yahata Nicole Vandelaar-Battjes Pamela Tom Rajiv Shah Ren Hanami Robert Shoji
Roger & Janet Mitsui Brown Rommel Mendoza Sandy & Tracy Okida Steven Wallace Steven Wasserman Steven Wong & Leslie Ito Sudarat Musikawong Susan Oda Omori Tadashi Nakamura Tadashi Nakase Takashi Fujii & Nancy Spiegel Valerie Matsumoto $50+ Alan Endo Alan Lee Amy Lew Andy Shimazaki Ann Kaneko Ann Tsugawa Anne Nakao April Horino Arlene Ito Arlene Sato Barbara Higashi Barbara Kawahara Barbara Poppy Kwong Bessie Chin Besty Kawahara Betty Jung Bob Fulton Brandon Shim Bryan Grielbenou Carol Hiroto Carol Nakauchi Carol Takafuji Carolyn Carrera Cassandra Chae Cathy Okita Cathy Tanaka & Gerald Fukui Charlene Morimoto Chris Kohler Chris Mori Chris Tashima Christine Balance & Gary Gabisan Christine Hankawa Christopher Lam Clyde Iwata Colleen Ikeuye Craig Tsukemoto Dan Kato Dan Nakauchi Daryn Wakasa Dave Miyakawa Dave Yada David Kent Yada David Ngo & Jin Yoo-Kim David Okita David Tanimoto
Dee Shiohama Denise Carroll Denise Yamamoto Dennis Kobata Dennis Murata Diane Tan Doug Iwanaga Dr. Greg Kimura Eileen Kurahashi Elaine Harada Elizabeth Stanley Ellen Shinkai Emily Chang Emily Lehrer Ernie Masumoto Esther Thompson Ev Kita Fatimah Tobing Rony Fern Iwata Forrest Nishioka Frances Matsumoto Fred Fulcher Gabe Esparza Gary Itano Gary Takamatsu Gayle H. & Craigton B. Wong Geoff Yamamoto George Nakata Georgia Lee Glen Nishinaka Greg Kimura Guy Campbell Hanna Go Harlan Hayshida Harry Furuya Hedemi Fulcher Helen Ota Hitochi Morimoto Hitomi Nishinaka Iku Kiriyama Irene Takamatsu Jan Katsuki Jan Kumuro Jan Murata Jane & Howard Boltz Janet Chen Janice & John Yen Janice Park Janie Nakata Jasmine Trice Jason Katman Jean Shiota Jeff Hiroto Jeff Imada Jeff Mcdonald Jennifer Chau Jennifer Yoon-Mejia Jerry Fukui Jess Carrera Jessica Ju Joanne Ishii John Kambe Joyce Furuya Joyce Tanimoto Judy Chang
Judy Sugimoto Julia Chang Julia Wong Julie Cho Julie Ha Julie Nishioka Jun Okimoto June Hibino Junie Obi Karen Umemoto Karie Itano Kathie Louy Kathria Tizon Kathryn Hempel Kathy Fujita Kay Niizawa Kazuko Deguchi Kazumi Kame Ken Hankawa Kenny Aoki Kenny Kohler Kim Fujimura Kimi Maru & David Monkawa Kizuna Little Tokyo Kris Nakasu Kyle Lau Lailanie Gadia Larry Quan Larry Shiohama Lawrence Hashima Leiton Hashimoto Leland Lau Lillian Nishihara Linda Mizufuka Linda Sonoda Linda Tanamachi Linda Ukita Lindsey Miyamoto Lynn Yada Malcolm Chung Margie Chong Marian Kubota Marie Masumoto Marilyn Fujii Mark Jue Marsha Hamamoto Martin Uyeda Mas Naito Mas Tomita Mee Quan Melissa Tong Michael Caigoy Michael Chiu Michael Yamada Michelle Krusiec Michi Tamanaha Mickey Matsumoto Mike Miyashita Mike Obi Milton Liu Mindy Fu Miya Iwataki Monica Esparza Monica Yoshinaga Moshi Kimura Nancy Kodama Nancy Ma Nancy Yap NaRhee Ahn Neil Kaapuni Nolan Maehara
Noreen Ikeuye Norman Tamanaha Patric Yoshinaga Patrick Chen Pauline Shimizu Peggy Uyeda Peter Chen Phil Yee Philip Chung Phillip Lee Phoebe Miyamoto Ping Wu Ray Sugimoto Raymond Sakai Reiko Oshima Richard Iizuka Richard Katsuda Richard Wong Richard Yamasaki Richard Yoshino Rick Katsuki Robert Factor Robert Winn Robynn Takayama Ron Chow Ron Hamaguchi Ron Kita Ron Mizufuka Ron Yamasaki Roy Furuto Ruth Watanabe Sandi Kato Sandi Maehara Sandra Chang Sandy Itatani Scott Lehrer Scott Okamoto Scott Shinmoto Sharon Lee Sharon Omi Sharon Tsukemoto Shelli Miyashita Shelly Shinmoto Sheryl Murata Shiley Asao Stanny Oishi Steve Ishii Sue Endo Sue Kato Sue Nuno Susumu Kimura Takayo & Sy Fischer Terest Iizuka Thomas Louie Tim Chiou TIm Itatani Tim Lounibos Timmy Louie Tony Quon Tosh Shimada Tracey Okubo Trudy Yee Tyo Jones-Hidalgo Valerie Ito Venus Borden Viki Goto Vince Cruz Vivian Matsushige Wade Utsunomiya Wayne Nagao Wayne Shimizu Wendy Aihara
Zula Damdin <$50 Ada Yeh Adrienne Muira-Oka Aileen Kozaki Aileen Lok AJ Calomay Alan Shibata Andrea Martinez Ava Azizi Bianca Armbruster Bob Hom Bobby Watanabe Bonnie Dias Burt Iwata Chelsea Sik Cheryl Hing Cheryl Idemoto Chiemi Watanabe Connie Oh Dane Morinaka Dee Ishida Donna Anami Donna Yoshioka Doug Tambara Ed Lee Elizabeth Haugon Eugene Chow Eugene Moy Florence Kang Frank Ishida Gail Kawato Gale Muragishi Gary Ching Gil Ishizu Glenn Higashi Grace Shen Harold Lim Helena Falangus Hideo Hirata Intae Kim Jack Lew Jan Fukumoto Jan Yokota Jane Murakami Jayne Ngo Jeannie Morinaka Jen Lucero Jeremy Sistoso Jessica Bolton Jim Lau Jim Morishige John Murakami Johnson Cheng Jojo Hirose Joy Chiya Kathleen Luevano Kathy Watanabe Ken Anami Kiku Kobashigawa Laraine Miyata Larissa Pruett Laura Nix Linda Nishikawa Lu Tambara Mainak Dhar Marlene Ching Matt Detisch Mei Ong Melissa Bisagni
Michelle Landi-Steinberg Michelle Murray-Montijo Mike Batista Monica Makiyama Nathan Trumbull Omar Vasquez Pat Chow Patrick Sakasegawa Patty Kasadate Peggy Tom Randy Makiyama Reynaldo Culannay Richard Kaku Rick Oka Rob Oka Robi Shibao Rom Lim Ron Chiya Ron Yoshioka Roni Iwata Roy Kobashigawa Roy Kozaki Rumiko Ota Scott Muragishi Sharon Shibata Stef Fukuzawa Steve Yokota Susan Kawashima Susie Yanagata Ted Yamada Tod Fukuzawa Tom Watanabe Tracy Nguyen-Chung United Way Wes Shigio York Lok Yumiko Goller
VC ME MBE RS AND DONORS • 60
BECOME A VC MEMBER
ABOUT VISUAL COMMUNICATIONS
A VISUAL COMMUNICATIONS MEMBERSHIP IS A REWARDING WAY TO SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE ORGANIZATION AND OUR PROGRAMS. VC Members are a community of creators and supporters who champion the spirit of Asian Pacific American stories in film and media. There are various VC Membership levels to suit your ability to give, and a portion of each contribution is tax deductible. LEARN MORE AT VCONLINE.ORG/MEMBERSHIP STUDENT $30 (proof of enrollment required)
SPONSOR $250
•
• • •
Same benefits as FRIEND level
SUPPORTER $50
• • • •
Subscription to VC’s weekly newsletter Invitation to members-only screenings Discounts on tickets, events, and merchandise Recognition on VC website
FRIEND $75
• •
SUPPORTER level benefits Two (2) LAAPFF regular screening tickets
FILMMAKER $125
• • • • • •
SUPPORTER level benefits Four (4) LAAPFF regular screening tickets One (1) LAAPFF badge - priority seating Waived LAAPFF film submission entry fee Access to apply for 501(c)(3) nonprofit status through VC’s Fiscal Sponsorship Discounted access to VC facilities and equipment
•
PATRON $500
• • • • • •
SUPPORTER level benefits Eight (8) LAAPFF regular screening tickets Two (2) LAAPFF Opening Night tickets Two (2) LAAPFF Closing Night tickets One (1) LAAPFF badge - priority seating One (1) complimentary copy of 2018 Armed With a Camera or Digital Histories DVD
Our mission is to develop and support the voices of Asian American & Pacific Islander filmmakers and media artists who empower communities and challenge perspectives. Founded in 1970 with the understanding that media and the arts are powerful forms of storytelling, Visual Communications creates cross cultural connections between peoples and generations.
Our programming includes: the annual Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival and year-round screenings and exhibitions; the Armed With a Camera Fellowship for Emerging Media Artists; the Digital Histories media production and storytelling project for senior citizens; and C3: The Conference for Creative Content. We are home to the VC Vault, one of the largest photographic and moving image archives on Asian Pacific experiences in America.
BENEFACTOR $1,000
• • • • • •
61 • BECO M E A VC M E M BE R
SUPPORTER level benefits Six (6) LAAPFF regular screening tickets Two (2) LAAPFF tickets to Opening or Closing Night One (1) LAAPFF badge - priority seating
SUPPORTER level benefits Two (2) LAAPFF Festival Passes One (1) LAAPFF badge - priority seating One (1) complimentary LAAPFF tote bag One (1) complimentary copy of 2018 Armed With a Camera DVD One (1) complimentary copy of 2018 Digital Histories DVD
WANT TO LEARN MORE? VISIT VCONLINE.ORG
ABOUT VISUAL COMMUNICATIONS • 62
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VISUAL COMMUNICATIONS Connecting Communities Through Media Arts 120 Judge John Aiso St. Los Angeles, CA 90012